The Knicks have polled NBA personnel the past few days, trying to figure out the chances of USC combo guard O.J. Mayo falling to them at six. With the chances slim, Knick president Donnie Walsh is exploring ways of swapping picks with Memphis at No. 5 or Minnesota at No. 3, according to a league source, with their goal of drafting Mayo. -- NY Post

The Knicks may have an easier time finding a veteran point guard. Toronto is shopping T. J. Ford, and Chicago is certain to unload Kirk Hinrich if it drafts Rose. Phoenix is dangling Leandro Barbosa. -- NY Times

Eddy Curry and Nate Robinson are expected to play a few of the Knicks' summer-league games next month in Las Vegas, according to a league source. Curry is coming back from knee surgery to repair torn cartilage, his awful season ending in March. If Robinson plays, it would be the fourth straight year he'd do summer league - highly unusual. The Knicks may want to see how Robinson stacks up with their new draft pick. -- NY Post

if they are serious about the Grizz pick....Knicks should see whats good with the Heat pick, from what i heard since Marion is not opting out, they are more willing NOw to give up that pick (aka no Beasley and may settle for Mayo)...who knows, we could possibly dump salary for picks...could try and move Curry again to Miami since they aint get the deal done last year.....unless somebody sees somebody emerging in next year draft, why not trade next year 1st round for the 2nd pick of this year....just a scenario, would be crazy if we do end up with 3 of the first 6 picks....sh*t like that happens for me in 2k8,

The Knicks have polled NBA personnel the past few days, trying to figure out the chances of USC combo guard O.J. Mayo falling to them at six. With the chances slim, Knick president Donnie Walsh is exploring ways of swapping picks with Memphis at No. 5 or Minnesota at No. 3, according to a league source, with their goal of drafting Mayo. -- NY Post

The Knicks may have an easier time finding a veteran point guard. Toronto is shopping T. J. Ford, and Chicago is certain to unload Kirk Hinrich if it drafts Rose. Phoenix is dangling Leandro Barbosa. -- NY Times

Eddy Curry and Nate Robinson are expected to play a few of the Knicks' summer-league games next month in Las Vegas, according to a league source. Curry is coming back from knee surgery to repair torn cartilage, his awful season ending in March. If Robinson plays, it would be the fourth straight year he'd do summer league - highly unusual. The Knicks may want to see how Robinson stacks up with their new draft pick. -- NY Post

if they are serious about the Grizz pick....Knicks should see whats good with the Heat pick, from what i heard since Marion is not opting out, they are more willing NOw to give up that pick (aka no Beasley and may settle for Mayo)...who knows, we could possibly dump salary for picks...could try and move Curry again to Miami since they aint get the deal done last year.....unless somebody sees somebody emerging in next year draft, why not trade next year 1st round for the 2nd pick of this year....just a scenario, would be crazy if we do end up with 3 of the first 6 picks....sh*t like that happens for me in 2k8,

In the post the said David Lee and Malik Rose was offered for Ojay Mayo.
I would make that trade. but i hope they will get rid of all these fools that need the ball 99% on the court.
With Mayo thats too many scorers. I want westbrook.

June 26, 2008 --
The Knicks can play it safe and hope UCLA point guard Russell Westbrook or Indiana sharpshooter Eric Gordon falls into their laps at No. 6 during tonight's NBA Draft.

Or the Knicks can be bold, try to move up and snatch O.J. Mayo or Westbrook, with David Lee the potential fall guy.

Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni, in their first Draft-Night as a Knick tandem, are looking to be bold. But whether anything will come of trade talks involving a swap with Minnesota at No. 3 or a Memphis deal at No. 5 is suspect. Last night a league source said that Charlotte was closing in on a deal with Memphis that would give the Bobcats the fifth pick, with their eye on Westbrook or Kevin Love.

Westbrook, Gordon and 6-10 Italian Stallion, Danilo Gallinari, whom agent Arn Tellem is pushing hard on Walsh, make up the Knicks' short list if Mayo isn't there. The Heat's supposed interest in dealing the No. 2 pick in a swap with Minnesota likely undermines the Knicks' attempts at Mayo. One of those two teams likely would take the USC freshman the Knicks had targeted and convinced to work out in New York.

This could still turn into an exciting night at The Theatre adjacent to the Garden, if Lee is dispatched and Walsh/D'Antoni pull off a trade.

The Knicks have talked to Portland about trading down, swapping No. 6 with 13, possibly gaining point guard Jarrett Jack. But a league source said Walsh has very little interest in trading down, only up.

The Knicks have one big trade pawn - Lee. And if he goes tonight, there will be lots of groans at the Garden's Theatre from the fans who enjoyed his grit.

"Everyone's calling the Knicks about David, if you want to do a deal with the Knicks, they want David Lee," his agent Mark Bartlestein said. "With a new regime, it's always a possibility at this time of year."

Walsh is willing to trade Lee because he may have to offer him a contract extension by October or risk losing him to free agency after 2008-2009. A long-term contract extension would cut into the Knicks' ability to free cap space after 2010, especially if D'Antoni doesn't believe Lee is offensively gifted enough to fit in.

ESPN.com reported Memphis and the Knicks discussed a deal of Lee and Malik Rose for the fifth pick and Brian Cardinal, who has two years left on his pact. The Knicks would then have the fifth and sixth picks. Mayo or Westbrook would have to be available.

If the Knicks don't make a trade and Mayo doesn't fall, they hope UCLA's sturdy point guard Westbrook, a great defender and explosive penetrator, can be had. The 6-3 tough-as-nails guard has a long wingspan, making the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year capable of guarding three positions. Problem is, Westbrook isn't a very good jump shooter and has to improve his playmaking.

There's hardly a guarantee Westbrook will be there. No. 4 Seattle is heavily considering Westbrook over combo guard Jerryd Bayless. As reported in Sunday's Post, Bayless has fallen off the Knicks' radar, possibly because he's too identical to Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson in style.

If Westbrook is gone, that could leave the Knicks with Indiana's Gordon, a sensational shooter (20.9 ppg) but who may not have the necessary point-guard skills.

"There are other ways to do what Mike wants than to have that (star PG)," Walsh said.

Gallinari is still under consideration. Tellem, who has lots of influence, is working the Knicks hard. "He's 19 and his pro team still went to him at the end of games," Walsh said of Gallinari. "From watching tapes of games, he usually took it to the goal. I didn't know if he wanted to shoot it. But he came here and really shot the ball well. He showed he can really shoot."

Walsh admitted the Westbrook workout was an eye-opener. "On film, it's difficult to gauge his athleticism and size,"' Walsh said. "When he gets here and does something, you go, 'Wow.' He's going to be difficult to guard because of speed or explosiveness."

The Knicks are hamstrung in making deals because they won't take back contracts that go beyond 2010. One Miami report stated the Knicks considered selling their sixth pick outright to trade Stephon Marbury-for-Shawn Marion. That makes no sense for the future, leaving them without a PG, without a lottery pick, and with an aging Marion for one season.